Thanks for compliments on Evolutionist at large.

Reports on his improving health.

Thanks for copy of Origin with its flattering inscription.

Hopes some day to have leisure to do original research.

Offers his services to CD as an observer in the Azores. Has studied the local natural history and is a great disciple of CD’s.

Many thanks for CD’s advice and suggestions. His letter is a great source of encouragement.

Has been collecting on the mountain summits and wants someone with whom to communicate about plants.

Sends a copy of his book [The student’s Darwin (1881)]. Hopes he may be forgiven for carrying his reasoning further than CD may allow.

Ludwig Büchner is in London. Requests interview for him with CD on Wednesday or Thursday; he leaves Friday.

Will gladly translate Krause’s letter for Nature; denounces Butler’s book attacking CD.

Thanks for suggesting that a spare copy of his book [Treatise on comparative embryology (1880–1)] be sent to Fritz Müller.

Announces CD’s election as an Honorary Corresponding Member of the Club.

Has read Earthworms.

Wonders if CD has studied gnats; inquires about their apparently useless hovering over one spot for hours.

Regarding CD’s paper ["Inheritance", Nature 24 (1881): 257; he comments on absence of black sheep at his father’s sheep station.

Notes that the repeated brandings of sheep produce no inherited effect, and a woman’s withered leg was not inherited by her children.

Asks whether he and W. M. Ord may call on CD.

Has read Earthworms; would like to know if his friend’s belief is true that worms, if not destroyed, eat the tender rootlets of grass.

Gives case of the inheritance of a tendency to turn grey at a particular age,

and, from his own family, details of the inheritance of a thumb deformity that apparently originated with his grandfather.

Mentions Mastodon remains that he has seen.

Praises CD and his work.

Sends CD an abstract of his 1871 paper on the earthworm, and requests information on the phenomenon of luminosity.

Arrived in Brazil three months ago. Studying insects and plants, but work suffers from lack of scientific literature.

Fritz Müller has written to him to observe relations between ants and plants.

Writing popular articles about evolution for German newspaper in Brazil.

Sends paper from Kosmos.

Expects to spend several years in Brazil.

Thanks for gift of Movement in plants.

Plans botanical research in Brazil.

Hermann von Jhering is conducting experiments on snakes.

WB obliged to work as newspaper correspondent.

Plans breeding experiments on dimorphic plants.

Announces the resolution passed by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s conference of 7 Jan 1881.